The Politics of Legalizing Marijuana

The Politics of Legalizing Marijuana: What's Involved? with Honourable Anne McLellan, Former Deputy Prime Minister and Chair of the Task Force on Cannabis Legalization and Regulation with Eric Costen, Director General of the Cannabis Legalization and Regulation Secretariat with Mark A. Ware, Associate Professor, Family Medicine and Anesthesia, McGill University, Vice Chair of the Federal Task Force on the legalization and regulation of cannabis in Canada This country is currently considering significant changes to the criminal code as it relates to the production, possession and distribution of cannabis products, a topic of great interest to young people and those suffering from severe or incurable health conditions. The implications of these changes go beyond simple regulation of a new market and involve consideration of a multitude of legal, social, and health factors. Ms. McLellan along with Dr. Mark Ware and Mr. Eric Costen, will take participants through the many consultations and considerations involved in putting together the Task Force’s final report and the effects these recommendations have and may have on legalization and regulation of cannabis in the future. As a democracy, Canada has increasingly permitted and encouraged public input, consultation, and modernization of its governing rules and structures. But how far will the country go in the future in terms of regulation and deregulation and what must we consider as we move forward through another 150 years of democracy in this country?